We got up at 5:30 AM. Adam said that he still was not feeling well. He complained of fever, dizziness, chest pain, and headache. We told him that weíd have the staff at Phillips Junction check him out when we got there. I was thankful that my chipped tooth wasnít bothering me too much.

So far the air was cool but the sky was clear, so I draped some of my wet clothes (including the laundry that was interrupted in the middle of the dry cycle) on the outside of my pack. Come on sun! We left camp at 7:20 and the crew walked right by the two signs pointing out the trail to Beaubien. After being informed of the error of their ways, the guys found the right trail and we pressed on.

At 7:45 we took a break to doff some of our excess clothing, and got back on the trail at 7:55 (Adam was moving very slowly). At 8:20 we stopped for breakfast at the top of a ridge where the hiking trail crossed a jeep trail. The sun was bright and warm, so we strung some impromptu clothes lines to hang our laundry and other wet stuff.

Brendon had carried a Sarah Lee pound cake and a can of cherry pie filling that he had planned to serve to the crew one evening during his ranger training. Since the beginning of our trek was a bit hectic, though, we didnít have a good opportunity to enjoy that tasty treat, so he gave the goodies to the crew. The guys decided to have the pound cake as part of todayís breakfast menu, but they saved the cherry pie filling for later. You just never know how the Philmont cuisine will evolve.

We finally packed up and hit the trail again at 9:40. Before leaving I changed into shorts and a T-shirt (which was still a little damp, but the long pants and shirt were getting too hot). I rearranged the draping of wet clothing on my pack, including my towel (I was really hoping to get a shower at PJ).

It seemed like we just got started when, at 10:05 we stopped again, this time for the repair of some foot problems that Dave Thomas and Dave Wiesenfeld were having. As with everything this crew did, the guys were thorough, but slow. We started hiking again at 10:30, and 10 minutes later we walked through Beaubien. (I believe that Beaubien is aptly named, for it is one of the prettiest camps on the ranch.)

At 10:50 we met Rich Goldman and Crew 1, who were hiking into Beaubien from PJ. After a bit of friendly jousting (verbal and otherwise) between Rich and me, we continued our hike, but not until our budding trail jockeys got some help finding the right trail. We rolled into Phillips Junction at 11:25 and headed straight for the staff office and commissary.

Larry had one of the staff radio in to Logistics and got us an itinerary change (we swapped out Harlan for ëCito), while I took Adam to see the CD (Joe, who was an EMT). Joe checked Adamís vital signs and radioed a report to the Health Lodge. The recommendation of the medical marvels at base camp was to give Adam 400 mg of I-B-Hurtin three times a day and have him hike on. They suggested that we radio in again at Clear Creek.

While Larry and I were occupied, Dave Wiesenfeld and Nathan organized a detail to draw food and other supplies (AP paper, etc.). They also managed to get free oranges for the crew and two cans of peaches. Of course, the weight of the canned goods was beginning to add up, but that didnít seem to be a source of any great concern for the crew ñ and they were the ones carrying the cans.

Before I relaxed and ate lunch I dashed over to the shower house for a quick hose-down. I was the only one from our crew who took advantage of this luxury, but I knew that I would not be the one weíd be waiting for when it was time to leave.

We left PJ at 1:44 PM. It was a long layover, but we got a lot accomplished. At 2:27 we were at the turn-off for the trail to Crooked Creek, and at 2:53 we reached the staff cabin. Dark clouds were beginning to move in fast, and the wind was picking up too. That would be what we call a bad thing.

We managed a quick cabin tour and some Kodak moments, then got back on the trail again at 3:30. Unfortunately, we had to make a brief stop for Nathan to backtrack and find his misplaced camera. We reached the trail junction across Rayado Creek at 4:00. Adam was setting a good pace.

At 5:00 we were at Comanche Camp. We scurried to set up in site 8 and just made it before a brief rain shower hit us. We ate dinner at 6:15, and it was great. The menu included a combination chicken noodle and turkey noodle medley, topped off with peach cobbler. Yummy. Plus, there was no rain! Now thatís what we call a good thing.

After dinner we took a variety of camp photos, with the crew posing at the sump, pilot-to-bombardier (back-to-back) open-air latrine, bear bags, etc. Everybody was in a better mood. Adam was feeling much better, too. Perhaps it was the I-B-Hurtin, and perhaps it was all the candy he bought at PJ.

Paul led a good review of our plans for the next dayís hike. Then we had a really good Thorns and Roses session, followed by a brief inspirational reading by Tim Lingelbach. After that, Larry and I led the crew in the Philmont Hymn. The guys responded well.

Before crawling into the tent to update my log, Larry and I used my MSR Waterworks to filter some drinking water for the next morning. The filter was working very slowly, which I thought probably indicated that it was ready for a scrape-down.